Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
07:41

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure

Published on: February 8, 2022

4.3K

Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast: relationship with clinical and echocardiographic parameters

Takahide Ito1, Michihiro Suwa2

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan.

Echo Research and Practice
|April 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) signifies blood stasis and can precede thrombus formation. Echocardiography helps identify patients at risk for thromboembolic events by assessing SEC in the left atrium.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) indicates blood stasis, a precursor to thrombus formation.
  • Left atrial (LA) SEC detection via transesophageal echocardiography identifies patients at high risk for thromboembolic events.
  • LA SEC occurs in sinus rhythm patients with heart failure and those with cardiovascular comorbidities, though mechanisms are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathogenesis and assessment of SEC.
  • To explore the relationship between LA SEC and clinical, biological, and echocardiographic parameters.
  • To discuss the role of mitral regurgitation and blood coagulability in LA SEC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on spontaneous echo contrast.
  • Analysis of echocardiographic findings, particularly transesophageal echocardiography for LA SEC.
  • Examination of clinical, biological, and echocardiographic parameters associated with SEC.

Main Results:

  • SEC is a marker of blood stasis and thrombus risk.
  • LA SEC assessment is crucial for identifying thromboembolic risk.
  • Factors influencing LA SEC include heart failure, comorbidities, and blood coagulability.

Conclusions:

  • SEC assessment, especially in the LA, is vital for risk stratification.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking comorbidities and LA SEC.
  • Understanding SEC's role in various cardiac conditions can improve patient management.

Keywords:
atrial fibrillationbiological markersheart failureleft atrial spontaneous echo contrasttrasnsesophageal echocardiography

More Related Videos

Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Method for the Visualization and Assessment of Specific Parameters of the Pulmonary Veins06:48

Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Method for the Visualization and Assessment of Specific Parameters of the Pulmonary Veins

Published on: October 28, 2020

3.2K
Donor Posterior Atrial Flap Rotation for Left Atrial Cuff Reconstruction in Lung Transplantation07:28

Donor Posterior Atrial Flap Rotation for Left Atrial Cuff Reconstruction in Lung Transplantation

Published on: October 11, 2024

723

Related Concept Videos

Echo01:06

Echo

The human ear cannot distinguish between two sources of sound if they happen to reach within a specific time interval, typically 0.1 seconds apart. More than this, and they are perceived as separate sources.
Imagine the sound is reflected back to the ears. Assuming that the source is very close to the human, the difference between hearing the two sounds—the emitted sound and the reflected sound—may be more than the minimum time for perceiving distinct sounds. If this is the case,...
926
Spontaneity02:21

Spontaneity

A spontaneous process is one that occurs naturally under certain conditions. A nonspontaneous process, on the other hand, will not take place unless it is “driven” by the continual input of energy from an external source. Processes have a natural tendency to occur in one direction under a given set of conditions. Water will naturally flow downhill (spontaneous process), but uphill flow (nonspontaneous process) requires outside intervention such as the use of a pump. Iron exposed to...
29.2K
Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
45.3K
Ending Relationships01:28

Ending Relationships

The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
178
Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy01:26

Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy

Phase-Contrast Microscopes
In-phase-contrast microscopes, interference between light directly passing through a cell and light refracted by cellular components is used to create high-contrast, high-resolution images without staining. It is the oldest and simplest type of microscope that creates an image by altering the wavelengths of light rays passing through the specimen. Altered wavelength paths are created using an annular stop in the condenser. The annular stop produces a hollow cone of...
12.8K
Relationship Growth01:27

Relationship Growth

Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
210